Liverpool – Manchester United preview: Can Mourinho break Liverpool’s unbeaten run?

After 16 games of entertaining football, we finally have a team clear at the top of the Premier League table, and that team is Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.

The Reds have been a joy to watch this season following an impressive end to their last campaign where they made it all the way to the Champions League final.

Since that defeat in Kyiv, Liverpool have gone from strength-to-strength, building up on the defence to become one of the hardest teams to score against in the league and a team that genuinely look like they can challenge for the title alongside Pep Guardiola’s mythical Manchester City.

This resurgence to the top has been made all the more better for Liverpool fans as their bitter rivals, Manchester United, continue to fall from their former throne as kings of the Premier League, and on Sunday the two sides meet at Anfield in could be one of the most important games of the season.

The history

This rivalry has roots on the dockyards of the two cities of Liverpool and Manchester, a rivalry which was augmented by the construction of the Manchester Ship Canal in the 1890s which took work away from the Liverpool docks. This fixture has been one of the biggest games in the Premier League as well as one of the most watched sporting events of the year, with an estimated 500 million fans worldwide tuning in to watch one of England’s oldest derby’s, despite both clubs having local city rivals.

The two sides are the most successful teams in the country with a combined 38 league titles, 19 FA Cups, eight European Cups and four UEFA Super Cups in their trophy cabinets, just to name a few.

Sunday will mark the 201^st occasion these two teams will meet, and bragging rights will be on the line. Although Manchester United have held the title of ‘most successful team in England, they will come into Sunday as the heavy underdogs for this famous fixture.

However, when you look at past results in the league you will discover something rather peculiar. Manchester United aren’t half bad against Liverpool post-Fergie.

Since the departure of the legendary Scotsman, United have only lost twice to their Merseyside rivals, both coming under David Moyes, and Liverpool are yet to score against the Red Devils at Anfield in the league since 2014.

Team news

Recent form in this fixture might lift the spirits of Manchester United fans, so a pundit could feel bad about shooting down their chances this weekend with the team news, and it isn’t looking good for Mourinho.

As many as nine players could be out for United on Sunday. Alexis Sanchez and Victor Lindelof are out with long-term injuries, whilst while Diogo Dalot, Anthony Martial, Chris Smalling, Matteo Darmian and Luke Shaw didn’t travel to Valencia midweek due to fitness issues.

To make matters worse, Scott McTominay and Marcos Rojo, who both made the squad Wednesday night in Spain, could both be out as well as McTominay picked up an injury in training, while Rojo was forced off at half-time against Valencia in the 2-1 loss.

As for Liverpool, local boy Trent Alexander-Arnold and Cameroonian centre back Joel Matip have both been ruled out with long-term injuries meaning Klopp will be without a fully fit right back for Sunday afternoon with Nathaniel Clyne also out with injury.

The prediction

The North West derby between Liverpool and Manchester United is one of the biggest games on the footballing calendar and a game that gets the entire world talking.

Liverpool come into this game the clear-away favourites.

United lack the numbers to contain the Reds’ incredible attacking intent, and it is hard to see how Mourinho will be able to outsmart Klopp in this one.

Prediction: Liverpool 2-0 Manchester United